Soundside

Should you have to show your ID to watch porn online?  A proposal introduced in the State Legislature this month would require it.  If it passes, Washington will join over 20 states that already require age verification. Critics have said the law makes users vulnerable to data breaches and that content about LGBTQ people can be flagged as sexual, instead of educational, among other issues.  So far, the bill hasn’t made it out of the House Consumer Protection and Business committee. But meanwhile, the core question remains: What to do about the access kids have to harmful sexual materials on an ever-changing internet?  Guests Shauna Sowersby, state politics reporter at The Seattle Times Nicole McNichols, associate teaching professor at the University of Washington, @nicole_thesexprofessor LinksHB 2112 - 2025-26, establishing an age minimum to access certain adult content onlineWA age verification bill targets access to online adult content - The Seattle Times The Age-Gated Internet Is Sweeping the US. Activists Are Fighting Back - Jason Parham, Wired Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a medical setting, if staffers think a patient is violent or threatening, they may restrain them to a hospital bed. Or inject them with a sedative.  In some cases, they might also use a spit hood.  This is a mesh or cloth covering that goes over a patient’s head. It was patented for law enforcement to use during arrests. Critics of these devices consider them dehumanizing…. And in some cases, dangerous.  In the past decade, at least five people in the United States died in medical care incidents involving spit hoods. And the FDA doesn’t classify them as medical devices, which means they aren’t subjected to safety regulations. This all comes to us in a new investigation from The Seattle Times. The reporting looks at how spit hoods are used in medical facilities across the country.  Guests:  Hannah Furfaro, a mental health reporter at the Seattle Times and the journalist behind “Shrouded in Secrecy.” Related links:  Shrouded in Secrecy: An investigation from The Seattle Times | The Seattle Times When hospitals use spit hoods on patients, no one is watching | The Seattle Times Where and how spit hoods are used across the U.S. | The Seattle Times How safe are spit hoods — and do they actually work? | The Seattle Times How spit hood use could be made safer, according to experts | The Seattle Times Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve heard a lot over the past few weeks about federal agents and how they’re policing the public in Minneapolis.  But let’s talk about how people in Washington are currently most likely to interact with Customs and Border Protection: At the border. At those crossings, there is the potential, for your phone, or other devices, to be searched.  Last fiscal year, Customs and Border Protection reported a 16 percent increase in searches of digital devices compared with 2024. Maybe you’re planning to head to Canada for a weekend trip, or maybe to the warm weather of Mexico during our dark and dreary winter, Should you expect your phone to be searched at the border? And what steps can you take to protect your data? GUEST: Gabe Castro-Root, New York Times RELATED LINKS:  Phone Searches at the Border Are Up: How to Protect Your Privacy Traveling to the U.S. Under Trump: Visas, Border Control and What to Know Border Search of Electronic Devices at Ports of Entry Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle Public Schools has a new Superintendent.  Ben Shuldiner was the only finalist for the position, and the Seattle School Board unanimously approved his contract back in November. On Sunday he stepped into the role early after two teenagers, who are believed to be SPS students, were shot and killed at a bus stop in Rainier Valley. The shooting happened near both South Shore PK-8, and Rainier Beach High School. Soundside sat down with Shuldiner to get his response to the shooting, and to preview his priorities for leading the largest school district in Washington. Guest: Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner Related stories: 2 teen boys killed at bus stop on Rainier Avenue in Seattle - KUOW Seattle School Board names lone superintendent finalist, a district leader recruited from Michigan - KUOW No cops at Garfield High. Seattle School Board rejects plan to revive resource officer program - KUOW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the start of every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page. It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward. Guest: KUOW Reporter, Producer, and Documentary Podcast Creator Will James Related stories: 2 teen boys killed at bus stop on Rainier Avenue in Seattle Seattle-area businesses, students join national general strike Seattle CHOP verdict: City must pay $30.5 million to family of slain teen Grammys 2026: Zach Top leads WA winners Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The Chronology of Water” is a new movie that dives into the story of a woman’s life, told through scattered memories.  It’s the first feature film directed by Kristen Stewart. And it tackles heavy themes that the protagonist experiences firsthand, like sexual abuse and drug addiction.  But it also explores the beauty in that life, like the escape she finds in competitive swimming, which lands her a college scholarship… And later, a passion for storytelling that she discovers in a creative-writing class.  “The Chronology of Water” may be a work of art, but it isn’t a work of fiction.  It’s adapted from the real-life story of Lidia Yuknavitch, an Oregon author who published a memoir with the same title in 2011.  The film is screening at SIFF on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1.  Guests:  Lidia Yuknavitch, the author of "The Chronology of Water" Related links:  The Chronology of Water | Lidia Yuknavitch | Hawthorne Books ‘The Chronology of Water’ Author Lidia Yuknavitch on Having Her Memoir Adapted by Kristen Stewart | Vogue “The Chronology of Water” Is an Extraordinary Directorial Début | The New Yorker The Chronology of Water | SIFF  Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last few weeks, Seattle commuters have been weathering I-5 maintenance on the Ship Canal Bridge. The traffic is bad, the timeline is long … yeah, it’s not fun.  Maybe this will help ease the frustration while you wait in traffic. It could be worse: we could need a whole new bridge. That’s the situation for the I-5 span over the Columbia River, at the border of Washington and Oregon. Parts of the crossing are over 100 years old, and local leaders have discussed a replacement for decades. Planning between Washington and Oregon started twenty years ago … the project hasn’t broken ground yet, and cost estimates have recently ballooned. But the I-5 bridge replacement got good news from the Coast Guard this month that could make it a tad less pricey. Guests:  Carley Francis, Interim Program Administrator for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program Related links:  Interstate Bridge Replacement Program Washington State Is Losing Control of the Columbia Interstate Bridge Replacement Megaproject » The Urbanist Coast Guard OKs new I-5 bridge over Columbia River without movable span • Washington State Standard Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re a week away from the start of the OLYMPICS! It’s the final week of January, and I’m amazed that it feels simultaneously like New Year’s Eve was just yesterday, but also that this month has felt like an entire year long. Let’s do something FUN this weekend! Here with all the stuff to do is Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows!! LINKS: Washington Sportsmen's Show Tacoma Home + Garden Show Heated Rivalry Rave | Neumos sQuatch Fest + Galactic Fest 2026 For Your Consideration - SIFF The Chronology of Water - SIFF Battle of the Sound: Seattle Thunderbirds vs Everett Silvertips Tacoma Tattoo Expo 2026 Seattle Wedding Show Drag Queen Bingo - Chuck’s Hop Shop Seward Park Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle’s new city attorney, Erika Evans has been on the job for a little over 3 weeks – one of several newly elected officials moving the city in a more progressive direction.    We’re discuss a range of topics - from drug laws and diversion, to federal immigration enforcement in the city.  And a quick reminder about the city attorney’s duties: They enforce Seattle’s laws, prosecute misdemeanor crimes and defend the city in court. Guest:  Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans Related storieS: Seattle doubles down on diversion — not charges — for public drug use - KUOW Ferguson, Brown pledge legal action if ICE violates WA residents’ rights - Seattle Times Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump Administration might be dialing down some of its most confrontational immigration enforcement operations focused on the Twin Cities. Alex Pretti, a 37 year old VA nurse, was shot and killed on Saturday by Customs and Border Patrol agents. It was the second deadly shooting in one month by immigration officers in Minnesota.  Federal officials said Pretti “approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun.” Pretti did have a gun on him, which he was legally licensed to carry.  Video of the scene does not show him brandishing the weapon and he appeared to be disarmed before he was shot by CBP.  After several members of his administration spent the weekend defending the agents’ actions, President Trump on Monday relieved Border Patrol’s Gregory Bovino of command duties in Minnesota and put border czar Tom Homan in charge. Governor Tim Walz said in a statement that he spoke with Homan this morning and they agreed to the need for “an ongoing dialogue.” Since the Pretti killing, some Republicans in congress have signaled rare criticism of the President’s policies. Some called for an  independent investigation and appear to be pushing to de-escalate the situation in Minnesota.  Meanwhile, there is a showdown in Congress this week over funding for DHS – fueled by outrage over the events in Minneapolis – and it’s all leading to a potential federal government shutdown looming on Friday. Guest:  Rep. Pramila Jayapal - U.S. Representative from Washington's 7th District Relevant Links: NPR: In the wake of Alex Pretti's death, Congress appears on track for a partial shutdown NPR: Tensions escalate in Minnesota after another killing Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.